Search form

Credit Unions Can Get Close-Up to Members

Sun, Jul 7, 2013

Rancho Cucamonga, California

Are your members ready for their close-ups? Now, credit unions can be ready when they are.

CO-OP Financial Services is introducing Photo-OP by CO-OP, a new ATM/debit/credit card production service that enables credit union members to design their own cards with personal photos on the front.

“Personalized cards are the ultimate in one-on-one marketing for credit unions,” said Stan Hollen, President/Chief Executive Officer of CO-OP Financial Services. “Photo-OP by CO-OP can serve as a way for credit unions to differentiate themselves from competitors, strengthen member loyalty by creating an emotional tie to the card and increase card usage.”

“Right from the start CO-OP Financial Services impressed me with Photo-OP by CO-OP,” said Jennifer Guest, CEO of Shore to Shore Community Federal Credit Union, Trenton, Mich. (www.shore2shorecu.com), which served as the beta client for the new product. “The process is very easy, efficient and did not put any additional strain on our staff’s time. We are thrilled to offer our members this fun, new benefit which will also give us an opportunity to earn some additional non-interest income.”

A study by Datacard Group, Minnetonka, Minn., found:

15-20 percent more transactions occur with a personalized card than with one that is not;

62 percent of photo cardholders’ outstanding balances are higher than the U.S. average;

34 percent of photo cardholders’ monthly volumes are higher the U.S. average; and

50 percent fewer members are likely to switch to other cards or destroy the cards at renewal.

To use the service, credit unions must utilize CO-OP Financial Services for card production; no other additional hardware or software is needed. Standard implementation includes credit union logo branding on the card face.

It is equally easy for members to use Photo-OP by CO-OP to design a card featuring a picture of a loved one, pet, hobby or favorite vacation spot. The three-step Internet-based process starts with uploading an image from their computer or a social media account, such as Facebook; cropping the image to the card face; and submitting their design for production and order confirmation.

Based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and founded in 1981, CO-OP Financial Services is the nation’s largest credit union service organization in terms of number of credit unions, assets and members. The company helps credit unions thrive by providing products and services that make it more convenient for members to do business with them. With a motto of “Be There. Be More,” CO-OP’s products fall into three business lines, including “Locations,” (ATM, shared branching and call center services); “Card Payments” (debit and credit processing) and “Mobile/Virtual” (mobile, online, check imaging, bill pay services). To learn more visit www.co-opfs.org.